Fluid operated pump assembly



Jan. 1l, 1944. C, COBERLY 2,338,903

FLUID OPERATED PUMP ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 2l, 1941 4 Sheetls-Shee'bl '//vans/v ToA7 CLA laf/veg d. Coeli-Pz. y

Jan. 11, 1944.

c. J. coal-:RLY

' FLUID OPERATED PUMP ASSEMBLY 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2l, 1941 HA12ms, //Ec JUL 11, 1944. c. J. colar-:RLYl

FLUID OPERATED PUMP ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 21, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 3 HAwas, V/f/fscff, F05 rig/Q @5f/AMPM i a to. I m

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11, 1944. K 'Q J. COB-ERLY 2,338,903

FLUID OPERATED P-UMP ASSEMBLY l l Filed Jan. 2l, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4WW W A TTQP/vgns.

Patented Jan. 11, 1944l FLUID OPERATED PUMP ASSEMBLY Clarence J.Coberly, Los Angeles, Calif., asslgnor to Roko Corporation, Reno, Nev.,a corporation of N evada Application January 21, 1941, Serial No 375,219

(Cl. S-46) 18 Claims..

My invention relates to pumps of the character used for pumping oil fromdeep wells and relates in particular to pumps which are operated byiluid under pressure which is forced downwardly through suitable pipingto a duid motor unit forming part of the pump.

Although the invention is of especial utility with fluid operated pumps,it may be in many in- :stances proiitably employed with other types ofpumps. Fluid operated deep Well pumps are now used where it is desiredto avoid sucker rods and the attendant losses and ineillciency, A typeof iiuid operated pump now in use employs an outer tube which is adaptedto receive oil from the Well and an inner tube having a pump connectedto the lower end thereof and extended down into the Well to suchposition that the intake of the pump will receive oil from the Well. Thepump is operated by clean operating iluid, such as oil, which is pumpeddownwardly through the inner tube to the pump unit.` A pump of thischaracter has been known to operate for a long period of time, butregardless of the high efliciency of the pump, such pump is subject towear of its operating parts and must be removed as occasion demands. Theknown construction of such pumps, that is, with the pump secured to thelower end of the inner tube, requires the removal of the entire innertube from the well in order to bring the pump to the surface. Thisrequires considerable time and labor. For example, to pull a pump from asix thousand foot Well requires of crew of four or ve men andapproximately four hours of time, and, in addition to this, the use ofheavy equipment and consider.

able power.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pumping equipmentin which the pump constitutes a separate unit adapted `to be lowered tothe lower end of a tube in a well and to be .removed from such tube bythe action of an upward flow of iiuid through the tube. With the.

invention in use, instead of four or ve hours being required for pullingthe pump, it may be pumped from the Well in approximately onehalf'hour,the result being that a worn pump may be removed from a well andreplaced by another in a period of one and one-half hours or less. Theinvention avoids the necessity of assembling a crew of men when itbecomes necessary to pull the pump and also avoids the transporting ofpulling equipment.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pumping equipmentincluding means for pumping a. clean operating iiuid under high pressureand relatively low velocity to a pump unit in a well for the purpose ofoperating such pump unit. and having improved means for reversing theflow of fluid and conducting the same at lower pressure and relativelyhigh velocity in a manner to remove the pump unit from the well by theaction of such reversed flow of fluid.

It isa further object of the invention to provide an improved means atthe upper end of the well for receiving and holding the pump after ithas been raised by fluid, such receiver being detachable from the upperend of the well structure so that the pump may be readily removedtherefrom' after the uid has been turned of?.

To accomplish the foregoing objects I have previously employed a pair ofconcentric tubings disposed in a well, the pump being received in theinner tubing and the production therefrom being conveyed to the surfaceof the ground i through the outer tubing, as illustrated in my PatentNo. 2,230,830, issued February 4, 1941, to which reference is herebymade. Such an installation requires an outer .production tubing ofrelatively large diameter, which is quite expensive, the expense thereofmaking the cost of such an installation prohibitive in the case of awell having a low production capacity, with the result that therecognized benets of such an installation system have not beencommercially available for use in such small production capacity wells.It is therefore an object of my present invention to provide atwo-tubing well system in which the production tubing may be oirelatively small diameter to permit the use of the system in lowproduction capacity wells, and I prefer to accomplish this by providinga pump tubing and a pro-l duction tubing which are set side-by-side inthe well. y

A further object of my invention is to provide a well pump adapted to bepumped out of a well tubing by uid pressure applied to the lower endthereof in which check valve means are provided in the pump forpreventing a reverse iiow of uid through the pump as it is pumped out ofthe well tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a uid operated well pumpadapted to seat on a seat member in the well and constructed andarranged so that the discharge from the pump is adjacent the seat so asto prevent sand or other foreign material from collecting between theseat and the pump.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a. n ovel type ofvalve mechanism adapted for use in a well pump, in which a valve memberis tration only and in which:

provided which is normally held of! its seat to prevent wear thereon butwhich automatically engages said seat upon a reverse in ilow of fluidthrough the valve mechanism. I prefer to accomplish this by providingmagnetic means for normally holding the valve member off its seat.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from thefollowing specification and the drawings, which are for the purpose ofillus- Fig. l is a vertical assembly view, partially in section, showingmy invention installed in a well.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged crossusectional View taken on the line 2 2 of Fig.l. 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 oi Fig.l. 4

Fig. i is an enlarged vertical sectional view oi'. the upper end of thedevice shown in Fig. i.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line S6 oi' Fig. a.

Fig.` 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view oi my pump unit, taken inthe neighborhood of the line 2 2 of Fig. i.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of my pump unit, being a downwardextension of Fig. '1.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of my pump unit, being a downwardextension oi Fig. 8.

Fig. li) is a vertical sectional view of my pump unit, being a downwardextension of Fig. 9.

Fig. 1l is a cross-sectional view taken on the line i l-ii of Fig. l0.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view oi the tubular element 132 ofmy device.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion oi Fig. i0, withone of the parts removed. Referring to the drawings, Fig. l shows a wellcasing i5 set in an oil well, as is well known in the art, so that thelower end thereof is open to an oil producing zone of the well, theupper end oi the casing being provided with a casing head I6. suitablysuspended from the casing head i6 in any manner well known in the art isa pump tubing i1 having a lower collar i3 thereon, the lower end oi thepump tubing being connected through a connecting collar i9 with a lowertubing 2t to the lower end of which is connected a foot member 2i. Aswill be noted,

the pump tubing i1 and the connecting collarl i9 have the same interna1diameter. Pumping l means comprised of a fluid operated pump unit 23 isreceived in the lower tubing 20, and when in working position occupiesthe position shown in Fig. i. Also suitably suspended from the casinghead i6 is an auxiliary tubing 24 which extends through the casing headand is connected at its lower end tothe foot member 2l, its axis beingparallel to but oset from the axis of the pump tubing i1. Enclosing thelower end of the pump tubing i1 and the lower end of the auxiliarytubing 24, and the foot member 2l. is a gas anchor device 25. Connectedto the upper end of the pump tubing l1 and the auxiliary tubing 24 is avalve means 26 having a pump catcher 21 connected thereto in alignmentwith the pump tubing I1, and having a discharge pipe 28 anda supply pipe29 connected thereto, the supply pipe being connected to a suitable highpressure pumping mechanism 30, and the discharge pipe being connected toa suitable point of discharge or storage (not shown) I asaaeos 26includes a valve block 32 having an upper threaded major bore 33 and alower threaded major bore 34 axially aligned with each other andcommunicating through a central chamber 35. Threadedly received in the'lower major bore 34 is the upper end of the pump tubing I1, and threadedinto the upper major lbore 33 is the lower end oi a tubular member 38 ofthe pump catcher 21. Also provided in the valve block 32 is a taperedvalve seat opening 31 connected with the central chamber 35 by means oia slot 33, the valve seat opening also being connected through adiametrically opposed slot 39 with an auxiliary bore 40 whichcommunicates with the upper end of the auxiliary tubing 24 which issuitably connected to the valve block 32. Seated in the tapered valveseat opening 31 is a tapered valve member 42 having a rst passage 43 anda second passage 44 therein, the passages preferably being of arcuateform as shown in Fig. 6. Formed on the upper end of the valve member 42is a hollow stem 45, the upper end of the stem being threaded to receivea threaded plug bolt 465, there being a radial passage 41 communieatingbetween the lower end of the interior of the hollow stem 4E and theperiphery oi the valve member 42, the radial passage being provided withan outwardly opening ball member 48. A lubricant, such as grease, may beprovided in the interior oi the hollow stem 45 so that by screwing theplug bolt 4t inwardly into the hollow stem the lubricant may be forcedradially outwardly through the radial passage/41 onto the periphery ofthe valve member 42 to lubricate the same. Provided in the upper face oithe valve block 32 vis a counterbore 49 axially aligned with the valveseat opening 31, into which projects a plug 5i) formed on a closureplate 5i which is suitably rigidly secured to the valve block 32, as bybolts 52, the closure plate being separated from the valve body by agasket 53 forming a iluid-tight joint therebetween. The closure plate 5lis provided with a bore 55 of larger diameter than the external diameteroi. the hollow stem 45 so as to provide a space therebetween in whichpacking 56 is provided around the hollow stem, the packing being heldbetween a packing gland member 51 threaded into the bore as at titi, orotherwise secured relative to the closure plate, and a packing ring 59resting on ball bearings 3i! provided between the lower face of thepacking ring and the upper face of the tapered` valve member 42. t willbe apparent that by tightening the packing gland member 51 relative tothe closure plate 5i, the packing 56 may be compressed so as to preventleakage of iluid past the hollow stern 45. The ball bearings 6D provideanti-friction means between the packing ring 59 and the tapered valvemember 42 when the latter is rotated. The upper end 5| of the hollowstem 45 is preferably provided with square faces so as to receive awrench by which member 42 may be rotated.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the valve means Also provided in thevalve block 32 is a discharge opening 62 and aninlet opening 63, theseopenings being so positioned relative to the slots 3ii and 39 that whenthe tapered valve member 42 is in the position shown in Fig. 6, thefirst passage 43 therein will connect the slot 38 and the inlet opening63, and. the second passage 44 therein will connect the slot 39 and thedischarge opening 62. By rotating the tapered lvalve mem ber 42 ninetydegrees in either direction, the slot 3B may be connected to thedischarge opening 62 and the slot 38 may be connected to the inletopening 63. It will thus be appreciated that the valve means 26 providesa four-way valve. The supply pipe 29 is connected to the valve block 32so as to communicate with the inlet opening 63, and the discharge pipe28 is connected to the `valve block 32 so as to communicate with thedischarge opening 62, as shown in-Fig. 6.

Also formed in the valve Ablock 32 is a bleeder valve bore |55, thelower end o! which communi cates with the central chamber 35 through aport |58, the upper end of the valve bore being counterbored to providea bleeder valve seat |51 on which seats a bleeder valve element |58which.

is threaded into the valve bore and which is provided with a. stufllngbox |59 therearound to prevent fluid leakage past the bleeder valveelewell casing I5, although it may be connected to any desired point ofdischarge.

'The pump catcher 21 includes a tubular body member 65, the lower end ofwhich' is threaded onto the upper end of the tubular member 36, therebeing a sealing ring 66 welded or otherwise secured to the member 36 soas to insure a, fluid-tight joint between the tubular body member 65 andthetubular member 36. Provided in the tubular body member 65 are a pairof diametrically opposed openings 81 and 68 in which are receivedtubular elements 69 and 10, respectively, each of the tubular elementsbeing provided with an end plug 1| threaded into the outer end thereof.The tubular element 69 is provided with a sliding dog 12 normally urgedtoward the interior of the tubular body member 65 by a coil spring 13,and the tubular element is likewise provided with a sliding dog 14normally urged toward the center of the tubular body member 65 by a coilspring 15. Each of the dogs 12 and 14 is undercut at its inner loweredge, as at 16, and the dogs form a latch means adapted to permit atapered head member 11 to be passed therethrough but to retain the sameafter the head member rises above the dogs. A dash-pot element 18 ispro- `vided in the upper end of the tubular body member 65 and has aconical opening 18 therein adapted to receive the tapered head 11, thedash-pot element engaging each of the dogs 12 and 14 to limit the inwardmovement thereof, and being yieldably retainedin such position by a coilspring 80. The clearance between the dash-pot element 18 and the innerwall of the tubular body member 65 is small, so that upward movement ofthe dash-pot element 18 is cushioned by fluid trapped thereabove, and itwill be appreciated that this construction com` prises a dash-pot meansfor cushioning nal upward movement of the iiuid operated pump unit 23.

As sho-wn in Fig. l, the head element 1 1 is fixed tothe upper end of aperforated tubularl strainer 8|, the lower end of which is threadedlysecured to a check valve device 82, which is shown in detail in Fig. '7.T he check valve device 82 includes a body member 83, the upper end ofwhich'ls threadedly secured to the lower end of the perforated tubularstrainer 8l, and the lower end of which is bored to provide a valvechamber 84, the lower portion of which is internally threaded, whichcommunicates through a bore 85 with the lower end of the strainer 8|.Threaded into the valve chamber 84 is the upper end of a tubular`element 86 provided with a main bore 81 and a valve bore 88 at the upperend thereof, the valve bore 88 being counterbored at its upper end toprovide an upwardly faced check valve seat 88 on which a ball valveelement 80 is adapted to seat to close the valve bore 88. A plurality ofvertical passages SI are provided in the upper end of the tubularelement 86 and intersect the main bore 81 thereof below the check valveseat 89, and it is to be noted that such passages are of substantiallysmaller diameter than vthe valve bore 88, for a purpose to be describedhereinafter. As will be noted, the outer surface of the tubular element86 is relieved at 86a. so that the lower end of the tubular element isof slightly greater diameter than the balance thereof. l

The lower end of the tubular element'86 also forms part of a sealingmember 92 and has a lower inwardly curved face 94 at its lower end andbeing threaded to a tubular element 95 having a ilange 95, the upperface of which is inwardly curved as at 91 so as to hold an annularpacking element 98 preferably formed of resilient material, such assynthetic rubber, between the curved face 94 and the flange 96. Thetubular element 85 is provided with an annular recess 83 which registerswith themajor portion of the inner surface of the annular packlngelement 98. Radial openings 99 are provided in the tubular element 95 soas to communicate with the recess 93 for a purpose to be describedhereinafter. The lower end of the tubular element 95 is threaded to theupper end 00 of the fluid operated pump unit 23, and it is to be notedthat the external diameter of the sealing member 82 is substantially thesame as the external diameter of the fluid operated pump unit, and thatthe sealing member makes a close sliding t within the connecting collarI9, which is connected to the lower end of the pump tubing l1, althoughthe upper portion of the tubular element 86 above the relieved portion86a has ample clearance in the tubing I1. The uid operated pump unit 23may be o any desired type, although I prefer to use a fluid operatedpump of the type shown and described in my copending application SerialNo. 350,010, led August 2, 1940, to which reference is hereby made for acomplete description of the construction and operation of the specificfluid operated pump-mechanism shown in the present application.Consequently, only the general elements of the fluid operated pump unit23 will be described herein.

The uid operated pump unit 23 is provided at its upper end with atubular valve body |02 in which i's provided a reciprocating main valvemember |03, the valve body being provided with a longitudinal passage|04 and a longitudinal discharge passage |05, the latter communicatingthrough a discharge port 08 with an annular space |01 provided betweenthe lower tubing 20 and the exterior of the iiuid operated pump unit 23.To the lower end of the valve body I|02 is threaded a pump cylinder |08having a liner |08 therein, there being a longitudinalspace ||0 betweenthe pumpcylinder and the liner, the upper end of the space ||0communicating with the lower end of the longitudinal passage |04, andthere being a, radial opening communicating between the lower end of thespace H0 and the interior of the liner |09, as best shown in Fig.

9. Disposed in the liner |09 is a piston I|2 making a fluid-tightsliding nt with the interior of upwardly through the main valve memberit and the tubular valve body 502, the upper end thereof projecting'into the connecting pipe t6, as shown in Fig. 7. Fixed to the lower sideoi the piston II2 is a tubular element il@ having a working valve l2@secured in the lower end thereof, the tubular element projecting into asleeve construction lil in which the tubular" element I I9 makes afluid-tight sliding rit.

Fixed to the lower end of the pump cylinder MiB is a lower cylinder IZB,the upper-end of which abuts against the lower end of the liner E09, andthe lower end of which is threaded to a tubular seating member itil, asbest shown in Fig. 10. An upwardly opening standing valve |25 isprovided so as to close a central passage I |26 through the seatingmember im, the central passage communicating through the standing valvewith the interior of the lower end or" the sleeve construction I2II, asbest shown in l0 and l1. As will be noted, the lower end of the seatingmember itt is provided with a conical face itl adapted to seat in aconical opening itil formed in the upper end of a lower check valvemeans 29.

The lower check valve means I2@ makes a close fluid-tight lit in a boreiti provided in the foot member 2l, and includes an upper tubularelement lili and a lower tubular element i3d threaded thereto. The uppertubular element l32 has a tubular member i3@ disposed rigidly therein,or formed integrally therewith, the lower end being counterbored toreceive a U-shaped permanent magnet lll' rigidly ixed therein, thepermanent magnet being adapted to normally retainthereon by magnetism ametallic closure ball itil. vided with a plurality of iiow passages M50,radially spaced, only one of which is shown in Fig. i0, and is providedwith a longitudinal slot ibi in one side thereof. The longitudinal slot,as shown in Fig. l2, is formed with an upper major portion l62 and alower minor portion it, the portions thereof being separated byshoulders iiifl which are arcuate in form, as shown in Fig. i3. Receivedin the slot ll is a release member M55 having shoulders IE6 formedthereon which are adapted to seat on the shoulders |64 formed by theslot Ilil, the shoulders |66 having a lower arcuate face adapted to .tinto the shoulders i645 of the slot. The release member |65 has an upperend I6I which, when the closure ball |3'II is seated as shown in Fig.l0, projects into the line of the central passage |26, and has a lowercurved end |68 which engages the closure ball |31. The release member|65 is also provided with a at spring |69 secured thereto, whichnormally urges the upper end |671 of the release member into the line ofthe central passage |26.

The lower tubular element |33 is provided with u seating ring |38 onwhich the closure ball |31 may seat to close a central passage |39formed in the lower tubular element |33. The lower end of the lowertubular element |33 is provided with The upper tubular element I32 ispro-v a conical seating face |40 adapted to seat in a conical opening|4I formed ina tubular inlet plug |42 threadedly secured in the lowerend of the bore ISI. As will be noted, the upper tubular element |32 iscounterbored so as to provide an annular shoulder |43 for a purpose tobe described hereinafter.

Also, as shown in Fig. 10, the foot member 2I is provided with anauxiliary bore |44 into which the lower end of the auxiliary tubing 24is threaded, the lower end thereof communicating through a passage |46with a chamber |46 formed in the upper end of the foot member 2| andintersecting and axially aligned with the bore I3I. The

chamber M6 also communicates with the lowerl end or the annular space|01.

The gas anchor device 25, shown in Fig. 1, is of conventionalconstruction well known in the art and may be dispensed with if desired.The gas anchor device 2 5 includes a head member Mil through which thepump tubing I1 and the auxiliary tubing 24 extend, the head memberabutting against the lower end of the lower collar Ill. .abuttingagainst the lower end of the head member |48 is a gas anchor barrel |49,the upper end of which is provided with perforations ld, and the lowerend of which abuts against a tail member IBI secured to the foot memberti by means or a bolt |52 threaded into a threaded opening |53 providedin the foot member. By tightening the bolt I52, the gas anchor barrel M9may be rigidly clamped beiFi/en the head member 48 .and the bail memberln operating my invention, the levice is first installed in a well withthe parts in the operating position shown in Fig. l. During normaloperation the four-way valve means 26 has the tapered valve member 62 inthe position shown in Fig. 6. The high pressure pumping mechanism till,which may be of any standard type of high pressure fluid pump well knownin the art, is operated to convey an operating fluid-such as clean oil,through the supply pipe 29, the inlet opening the first passage 43, theslot 38, the central chamber 35, and into the top of the pump tubing Il.The operating fluid passes downwardly through the pump tubing II andenters the perforated tubular strainer 8i, passing downwardlytherethrough and into the check valve device Since the ball valveelement lill is normally in its seated position on the seat theoperating Fluid ows downwardly therearound, 'through the verticalpassages 9| into the tubular element liti, flowing therethrough andiiowing through the sealing member 92 into the upper end i0!) of thefluid operated pump unit 23. Operating uid also flows outwardly throughthe radical openings 99 of the sealing member 92 into the annular recess93 so as to force the annular packing element outwardly into sealingengagement with the interior of the connecting collar I9.

The iiuid operated pump unit 23, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, has itspiston II2 in its uppermost position in the liner |09, the same havingjust completed its upstroke. In this position, the main valve member |03is in its lowermost position in which the under face of the piston II2is in fluid communication with the uid discharge pressure in the annularspace |01 through the radial opening III, the longitudinal space IIB,the longitudinal passage |04, and the discharge port |22. In thisposition of the main valve member |03, the lower end thereof is open tothe discharge pressure in the discharge passage through suitable groovesformed in the pilot rod ||8 and suitable ports provided therefor. Aswill be noted, the upper end of the piston ||2 is also in directcommunication with the discharge pressure in the annular space |01through the passage H6, the discharge passage |05, and the dischargeport |06. Consequently, in this position of the parts, the duid pressureis balanced on the upper and lower faces of the piston ||2. The pressureof the operating fluid used to operate the fluid operated pump unit 23,as will be evident to those skilled in the art, is substantially higherthan the fluid discharge pressure in the annular space |01, and sincethe pilot rod ||8 extends upwardly into the tubular element 86, theoperating fluid pressure at all times bears on the upper end of thepilot rod, and with the parts in the position shown-in Figs. 8 and 9, inwhich the fluid pressures on the upper and lower faces of the piston ||2are balanced, the pressure of the operating fluid on the upper end ofthe pilot rod ilcauses the same to move downwardly, carrying vwith itthe piston ||2. This causes the downstroke of the piston ||2, which alsomoves downwardly the tubular element ||9 which. is rigidly connectedthereto. On the downstroke of the-tubular element H9, since well fluidis trapped between the working valve and thestanding valve |25, theworking valve |20 opens to permit well fluid therebelow to be displacedupwardly into the tubular element H9. When the piston ||2 and the pilotrod ||8 reach the end of their downstroke, high pressure operating fluidis admitted to the lower end of the main valve member |03 throughsuitable grooves cut in the top of the pilot rod, and since the mainvalve member is a differentialarea valve it moves upwardly to an upperposition in which operating uid inthe upper end of the tubular valvebody |02 is admitted directly into the longitudinal passage |04 throughan inlet port |22a\ formed in the main valve member |03. Operating fluidthen flows downwardly through the longitudinal passage |04', thelongitudinal space ||0, and the radial opening into the lower end of theliner |09 to bear against the lower face of the piston II2, causlng thesame to move upwardly to perform its upstroke. During the upstroke ofthe piston ||2, the working valve |20 is closed, and the piston causesfluid thereabove in the liner |09 to discharge through the dischargepassage ||6, the discharge passage |05, and the discharge port |06 intothe annular space |01. This pumped fluid from the well passesdownwardly' through the annular space |01 into the chamber |46 at thelower end of the fluid operated pump unit 23 and flows therefrom throughthe passage and the yauxiliary bore |44 formed in the foot member 2|into the lower end of the auxiliary tubing 24, through which it flowsupwardly. From the upper end of the auxiliary tubing 24, the pumped welliluid iiows into the auxiliary bore 40 formed in the valve block 32,passes therefrom through the slot 39 and the second passage 44 .into thedischarge opening 62, from which it discharges into the discharge pipe28. Upon the upstroke of the traveling valve |20, suction is createdtherebeneath, causing the working valve |20 to open and permitting Wellfluid to flow upwardly therethrough.

Well fluid ows into the uid operated pump unit 23 by first entering thegas anchor device 25 through the perforations |50 of the gas anchortubular seating member |24, from which it passes through the standingvalve |25. Consequently, it will be appreciated that the fluid operatedpump unit 23 shown and described herein pumps on the upstroke of itspiston H2, the discharge from the pump passing upwardly through theauxiliary tubing 24 to a suitable Y point of discharge. It will beappreciated, however. that any suitable type of pumping mechanism may beused in the well instead of the iluid operated pump unit 23 withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and I do not intend to belimited to a fluid operated pump unit. It will also be appreciated thatas soon as the fluid pressure above the metallic closure ball |31 isreduced below thepressure of the well uid in the central passage |39,the closure ball |31 will be raised by this pressure differential so asto engage the permanent magnet |35, which thereafter holds the closureball in open position during operation of the fluid operated pump unit23, which is the normal position of the closure ball.

When it is desired to remove the iuid operated pump unit 23 from thewell, for repairs ory for any other reason, the tapered valve member 42of the four-way valve means 25 is rotated ninety degrees in eitherdirection, preferably by applying a suitable wrench to the upper end 6|ofthe hollow stem 45 thereof, which operation connects the inlet opening63 with the auxiliary bore 40 of the valve block 32 through either ofthe passages 43 or 44, and which connects the discharge opening 62 andthe central chamber 35 of the valve block through the other of thepassages 43 or 44. By this adjustment, itv will be appreciated that theauxiliary tubing 24 is connected to the supply pipe 28 and the pumptubing |1 is connected to the discharge pipe 28. Operating fluid thenpasses downwardly through the auxiliary tubing 24 and through theauxiliary bore |44 and passage |45 of the foot member 2| into thechamber |46 formed in the foot member. The pressure of the operating'iiuld is thus applied to the tubular seating member 24 attached to thelower end ofthe uid operated pump unit 23, and this causes the fluidoperated pump unit 23 to move upwardly through the lower tubing 20, theconnecting collar I9, and the pump tubing I1. As soon as the tubularseating member |24 moves upwardly off its seat in the conical opening|28, operating iiuid immediately tends to flow downwardly through thelower check valve means |29 and back into the well casing |6. However,downward movement ofop- -erating iluid past the metallic closure ball|31 of the lower check valve means |29 forces th'e same away from thepermanent magnet |35 and causes it to seat on the seating ring |38, thuspreventing further fluid flow downwardly through the central passage |39of. the lower tubular element |33. Thereafter, the weight of the columnof iiuid in the pump tubing above the metallic closure ball 31 causesthe same to remain seated on the seating ring |38. It will be noted thatthe maximum external diameter'of the tubular seating member |24 isconsiderably greater than the maximum external diameter of the sealformed between the conical lface |21 of thc seating member and theconical the seating member from its seat in the conical opening |28.

As indicated, the connecting collar I9" and the pump tubing l1 haveapproximately the same internal diameter, and since the annular packingelement 98 of the sealing member 92 is expanded, a sliding fluid-tightfit is provided between the fluid operated pump unit 23 and the walls ofthe tubing through which it passes. Due to the relief at 86a on thetubular element 86, the latter does not tend to bind in the pump tubingas the unit is raised therethrough. As soon as the pressure in the pumptubing |1 above the iiuid operated pump unit 23 is reduced, by

' adjustment of the four-way valve device 26, the

ball valve element 88 of the check valve device 82 is no longer held onits seat 89 by fluid pressure' thereabove, and since the cross-sectionalarea of the valve bore 38 is greater than the total of thecross-sectional areas of the vertical passages 9|, the reverse flow ofoperating fluid passes through the valve bore to raise the ball valveelement into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 in which itcloses'the bore 85 to prevent further reverse flow of operating fluidtherethrough as the uid operated pump unit 23 is being raised throughthe pump tubing I1. The fluid operar-ed pump unit 23 passes upwardlythrough the pump tubing i1 until the tapered head member 11 on theperforated tubular strainer 8i passes between the sliding` dogg 12 and14 of the pump catcher 21 and engages the dash-pot element 18 therein.The dash-pot element 18 is free to move slowly vertically in the upperend of the tubular body member of the pump catcher 2l, but since theupper end o1 the tubular body member is closed, and since clearancebetween it and the dash-pot'element is small, it acts as a dash-pot toreduce the jarring eiect normally involved in stopping the upwardmovement of the fluid operated pump unit 23. As will be apparent, assoon as the tapered head member 11 passes above the sliding dogs 12 and14, they will latch therebeneath by reason of the action of the coilsprings l-l and 'l5 so as to retain the tapered head member 11, which inturn supports the fluid operated pump unit 23.

To remove the fluid operated pump unit 23 from the pump catcher 2l, itis preferable to first rotate the tapered valve member 42 forty-fivedegrees in either direction so as to move the passages i3 and lill outoi registry with the other openings in the valve block 32 and thus shutofi the supply of operating fluid to, and the discharge of fluid from,the well. The bleeder valve element |53 is then rotated so as to movethe same oil its seat 551 so as to open communication between thecentral chamber 35 and the well casing through the port |56, the valvebore |55, the bleeder port 10, and the bleeder pipe i1 I. This relievesthe pressure in the pump tubing l1 above fluid operated pump unit 23,

and the tubular element 36 may then be unscrewed from the 'valve block32 and the fluid operated pump unit 23 removed from the pump tubing If,for any reason, it is desired to remove the check valve means |29 fromthe well after the fluid operated pump unit 23 has been removedtherefrom, a conventional spearing tool of any a,sss,eos

standard construction well known in the art may be run into the wellthrough the pump tubing I1 and into the lower check valve means throughthe conical opening |28. It will be appreciated that if the pump tubing|1 is filled with liquid, the weight thereof will maintain the metallicclosure ball |31 tightly seated on its seating ring |38, and,consequently, it is important to provide a means whereby the closure`ball can be readily moved from its seating ring so as to permit liquidthereabove to bleed back into the well before the lower check valvemeans |29 is raised through the pump tubing l1. This is provided by therelease member |65. When aspearing tool is lowered through the conicalopening |28, it will engage the upper end |61 of the release member |65,causing the same to rotate outwardly on the shoulders |64, which in turncauses the lower curved end |68 to rotate inwardly to move the closureball |31 from its seating ring |38 and thus permit liquid above theclosure ball to drain back into the well. This relieves the lower checkvalve means |23 of the weight of the column of fluid y thereon in thepump tubing l1, and the spearing tool engages the annular shoulder |43in the upper tubular element |32 of the check valve means to permit thecheck valve means to be raised through the pump tubing by the spearingtool which may be connected to a,- wire line for this purpose, as iswell known in the art.

From the foregoing description, it will also'be apparent that the lowercheck valve means |23 may be installed in the well in the position shownin Fig. l by inserting it into the upper end of the pump tubing I1,reconnecting the pump catcher 21 to the valve block 32, andv thenadjusting the four-way valve means 26 so as to convey operating fluidunder pressure downwardly `through the pump tubing so that it can pumpthe lower check valve means |29 downwardly threrethrough. This isfrequently desirable when a quick installation is desired. Similarly,the fluid operated pump unit 23 may then be inserted into the upper endof `the pump tubing il, and by suitable adjustment of the four-way valvemeans 25 the fluid operated pump unit may be pumped downwardly throughthe pump tubing to the operating position shown in Fig. 1. It will thusbe apparent that I provide a construction by which a pump unit may bepumped into or out of a well in a minimum amount of time and aconstruction in which a check valve device may be independently pumpedinto seated position at the bottom of the well tubing. It will also beapparent that by providing the pump tubing lll and the auxiliary tubing24 with their axes laterally offset I am able to use an auxiliary tubingoi relatively small diameter, thus materially reducing the cost ofinstallation of my device.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my device,it will be appreciated that other devices and elements may besubstituted for the particular devices and elements shown herein withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not intendto be limited to the specific construction shown but desire to beafforded the full scope of end thereof; means for connecting the intakeof said pump with the iiuid in the well; and means for producing a flowof iiuid downwardly through said second tubing and upwardly -throughsaid iirst tubing to move said pump upwardly -through said rst tubing tothe ground level.

2. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a first tubing set in awell; a second tubing set in the well beside said first tubing; meansfor connecting the lower ends of said tubings together in huidcommunication; a pump of a size to be passed through said first tubingto the lower end thereof; means for forming a seal between said pump andsaid iirst tubing; means for connecting the intake of said pump with thefluid in the well; and means for producing a iiow of iiuid downwardlythrough said second tubing and upwardly through said first tubing tomove said pump upwardly through said iirst tubing to the -ground level.

3. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a first tubing set in awell; a second tubing set in the well beside said rst tubing; means forconnecting the lowerends of said tubings together in fluidcommunication; a iluid operated pump of a size to be passed through said first tubing to the lower end thereof; means for connecting theintake of said pump with the fluid. in the well; and means for producinga flow of fluid downwardly through said second tubing and upwardlythrough said `first tubing to move said Apump upwardly through saidi'lrst tubing to the ground level.

4. In a Well pumping device, the 'combination of :'a iirst tubing set ina well; a second tubing set in the well beside said first tubing; meansfor connecting the lower ends of said tubings together in fluidcommunication; a pump of a size to be passed through said iirst tubingto the lower end thereof; means forconnecting the intake of said pumpwith the uid in the Well; means for producing a iiow of uid downwardlythrough said second tubing and upwardly through said first tubing tomove said pump upwardly through said iirst tubing to the ground level;and means at the upper end of said iirst tubing to receive and hold saidpump after it. f has been raised by said flow o! fluid.

5. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a iirst tubing set in awell; a second tubing set in the well beside said first tubing; meansfor connecting the lower ends of said tubings together in iiuidcommunication; a pump of a size to be passed through said rst tubing tothe lower end thereof; means for connecting the intake of said pump withthe fluid in the well; means for producing a iiow of iiuid downwardlythrough said second tubing and upwardly through said rst tubing to movesaid pump upwardly through said rst tubing to the ground level; and adetachable pump catcher at the upper end oi said first tubing forreceiving and holding said pump therein after said pump has been raisedby said flow of uid.

6. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a first tubing set in awell; a second tubing set in the well beside said ilrst tubing; meansfor connecting the lower ends of said tubings together in iluidcommunication; a fluid operated pump of a size to be passed through saidfirst tubing to the lower end thereof; means for connecting the intakeof said pump with the fluid in the well; means for forcing fluid downthrough said rst tubing to operate said pump; and means down throughsaid second tubing and up through 'said first tubing to carry saidfpumpto the upper end-of said iirst tubing.

7. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a iirst tubing set in awell; a second tubing set in the well beside said rst tubing, saidsecond tubing being substantially smaller in diameter than said iirsttubing; means for connecting the lower ends of said tubings together infiuld communication; a pump of a size to be passed through said firsttubing to the lower end thereof means for connecting the intake of saidpump with Ithe fluid in the well; and means for producing a flow offluid downwardly through said second tubing and upwardly through saidfirst tubing to move said pump upwardly through said ilrst tubing to theground level.

8. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a tubing set in a well;a pump of a size to be passed through said tubing to an operatingposition adjacent the lower end thereof; pump catcher means at the upperend of said tubing adapted to receive and hold said pump when the samehas been moved upwardly thereinto through said tubing, said pumpLcatcher means including a housing adapted to receive said pump; meansfor moving said pump means upwardly through said tubing and into saidhousing; and dash-pot means associated with said pump catcher means forstopping the upward movement of said pump.

9. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a lrst tubing set in awell and having a pump seat at the lower end thereof; a pump adapted toseat on said pump seat, said pump having an inlet port communicatingwith the iiuid in the well and a discharge port disposed therein so thatwhen said pump is seated on said pump seat said discharge port will be asubstantial distance above said pump seat; means for conveying pumpedwell fluid -from said. discharge port downwardly and around said pumpseat so as to prevent the deposit of sand therearound: a second tubingset in said well; and means providing a fluid passage communicatingbetween said first tubing adjacent vsaid pump seat and the lower end ofsaid second tubing.

10. In a Well pumping device, the combination of: a tubing set in awell; a pump of a size to be passed through said tubing to an operatingposition adjacent the lower end thereof; pump catcher means at the upperend of said tubing adapted to receive and hold said pump when the samehas been moved upwardly thereinto .throughsaid tubing, said pump catchermeans including a housing adapted to receive said pump; means for movingsaid pump means upwardly through said tubing and into said housing;conduit means communicating between the interior of said housing and thewell exterior to said tubing; and

Valve means in the line of said conduit means.

11. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a tubing set in awell; a pump of a size to be passed through said tubing to an operatingposition adjacent the lower end thereof; pump catcher means at 'theupper end of said tubing adapted to receive and hold said pump when thesame has been moved upwardly thereinto through said tubing, said pumpcatcher means including a housing adapted to receivel said pump; meansfor moving said pump means upwardly through said tubing and into saidhousing; conduit means communicating between the interior of said hous-Ior reversing the flow of iiuld so that it will flow 76 i118 at thelower end thereof and the well exterior to said tubing; and valve meansin the line of said conduit means.

12. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a tubing set in awell; a pump of a size to be passed through said tubing to an operatingposition adjacent the lower end thereof; pump catcher means at the upperend of said tubing adapted to receivel and hold said pump when the samehas been moved upwardly thereinto through said tubing, said pump catchermeans .including a housing adapted to receive said pump; hydraulic meansfor moving said pump means upwardly through said tubing andinto saidhousing; conduit means communicating between the interior of saidhousing at the lower end thereof and the well exterior to said tubing;and valve means in the line of said conduit means.

13. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a tubing set in awell; a pump of a size to be passed through said tubing to an operatingposition adjacent the lower end thereof pump catcher means at the upperend of said tubing adapted to receive and hold said pump when the samehas been moved upwardly thereinto through said tubing, including ahousing adapted to receive said pump, a spring-urged dog element adaptedto engage andJ support said pump, and resilient means in the upper endof said housing for cushioning the upper end-movement of said pump insaid housing; and means for moving said pump upwardly through saidtubing and into said housing.

14. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a tubing set in awell; a pump of a size to be passed through said tubing to an operatingposition adjacent the lower end thereof; pump catcher means at the upperend of vsaid tubing adapted to receive and hold said pump when the samehas been moved upwardly thereinto through said tubing, including ahousing adapted to receive said pump, a fitting connected to saidhousing and having a spring-urged dog element therein projecting intothe line of said pump; and means for moving said pump upwardly throughsaid tubing and into said housing, said pump being adapted to engage anddepress said dog element upon upward movement of said pump.

15. In a fluid operated pumping device, the combination of: a iiuidoperated pump for use in a well, said pump having an operating uid inletadapted to supply said pump with operating fluid under pressure tooperate the same; and check valve means in said inlet adapted to permita flow of operating fluid from said inlet to said pump but preventing areverse flow thereof, said check valve means including a central passagecommunicating at one end with said inlet and at the other end with avalve chamber, a valve passage substantially aligned with said centralpassage and communicating between said valve chamber and said pump, aball valve member adapted to seat in and close said valve passage inresponse to a ow of operating iuid to said pump but operable to closesaid central passage in response to a reverse flow of said operatingfluid, and a by-pass port of substantially smaller cross-sectional areathan said valve passage and communicating between said chamber and saidpump, operating fluid flowing through said bypass port from said inletto said pump when said ball valve member is seated in said valvepassage.

16. In a Well pumping device, the combination of: a ilrst tubing set ina well; a second tubing set in the well beside said first tubing; a footmember secured to the lower ends of both of said tubings and having alongitudinal. bore therethrough with an annular pump seat in said boreand a passage communicating between said bore above said pump seat andthe lower endy of said second tubing, the upper end of said longitudinalbore communicating with the lower end of said first tubing; and a pumpof a size to be passed through said first tubing to the lower endthereof so as to seat on said pump seat, said pump having an inletl portcommunicating with said bore below said pump seat and a discharge portcommunicating with said passage.

l'l'. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a iirst tubing setin a well; asecond tubing ,set in the weil beside said first tubing; afoot ing; a removable check valve element adapted to seat on saidannular seat in said longitudinal bore and having a pump seat formedthereon; and a pump of a size to be passed through said first tubing tothe lower end thereof so as to seat on said pump seat, said pump havingan inlet port communicating with said bore below said pump s seat and adischarge port communicating with said passage.

18. In a well pumping device, the combination of a first tubing set in aweil; a second tubing set in the well beside said rst tubing; a footmember for connecting the lower-,ends of said tubings together in fluidcommunication; a pump of a size to be passed through said first tubingto the lower end thereof; means in said foot member for connecting theintake of said pump with the fluid in the well; an upper head memberthrough which both of said tubings pass; a. lower head member below thelower end of said foot member; a barrel surrounding said tubings andsaid foot member, the upper end of said barrel engaging said upper headmember and the lower end of said barrel engaging said lower head member,said barrel having perforations therein adjacent the upper end thereof;and means for securing said lower head member to said foot member toretain said barrel.

CLARENCE J. COBERLY.

